United Way on track to raise more money than last year, officials say | VIDEO

EVANSVILLE - The United Way of Southwestern Indiana is on track to raise more money than it did in 2009 — the first year-over-year increase since 2006, officials said.

Officials from the group, part of a national organization that strives to help households with respect to income, education and health, announced Tuesday at Ivy Tech Community College's Evansville campus that it has raised more than $3.7 million in 2010, up 3.5 percent from this point last year.

"We had more companies, larger companies, contributing earlier," Dan Schenk, the chairman of the United Way 2010 campaign, said in an interview. "So that really gave us the momentum throughout the campaign."

The figures are noteworthy because contributions have declined in previous years. After raising $5.5 million in 2006, the organization raised $5 million in 2007, $4.5 million in 2008 and $4.2 million in 2009.

But if the organization continues to receive contributions from the individuals and organizations who gave last year, hinted Schenk, who is also the chancellor at Ivy Tech, dollars raised this year will exceed last year's total.

"There are still several companies and individuals from last year who have not reported their gift for 2010," Schenk said at the press conference, which took place in the college's Bussing-Koch Gallery.

Companies and organizations of note include the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., which gave $100,000, up 21 percent from last year; and Whirlpool, which contributed $82,000, collected from an auction after the plant's closing.

"It's not just about the money," said Carol Braden-Clarke, president of the United Way of Southwestern Indiana.

"But it is really about what this money can do when it is invested in programs in our community that are focusing on education, income and health," she said.

Cathy Perrin, a community resource specialist at the United Way 211 Call Center, gave a few examples of the direct impact United Way and partner agencies have had on residents.

One woman whose utilities were terminated due to a mistake by her landlord last summer had a daughter who had just undergone major abdominal surgery. Her daughter's recovery equipment needed power, so she called 211 and sought help, Perrin said.

"I called my partners (in the Vectren Outreach Advocacy Department)," said Perrin, "and they were able to reach a solution that did get her power reconnected within a matter of hours. Her daughter recovered."

Despite the positive news, the United Way of Southwestern Indiana encourages people to give what they can before the year is over.

There are a variety of ways to make a donation, officials from the organization said, and contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar.